Information appliance architecture

Abstract

An architecture for an information appliance adapted for a specific application supports a variety of appliance personalities, relying on a single core technology. The information appliance comprises an application-optimized hardware platform, including a processor, a display coupled to the processor, an input/output device coupled to an information source and to the processor, a user input device, and working memory coupled to the processor. Non-volatile memory is coupled to the processor and stores appliance operating software and application software. The appliance operating software includes logic executed by the processor, which manages information flow from the information source through the working memory to the display, and the application software includes logic executed by the processor and responsive to the user input to manage selection of information from the information source. The appliance operating software includes an operating system kernel that is adapted for the processor, and a system library that includes logic providing an interface to the application software. An operating system service layer provides an abstraction function between the system library and the appliance operating system kernel and hardware, so that the logic in the system library and above, such as in the application itself, is executable with a development platform operating system which is completely different from the operating system of the appliance.

Description

[0001]This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 743,803, filed Nov. 5, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,990 now allowed.—all of which are incorporated herein by reference.LIMITED COPYRIGHT WAIVER[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates to an architecture for development and implementation of easy-to-use, low cost appliances, targeted at connecting average consumers to emerging on-line information services and other information sources.[0005]2. Description of Related Art[0006]Using computers, individuals are able to access a tremendous amount of information. With ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]According to the present invention, a new class of consumer appliances for homes, schools, and offices is developed which blend the intuitive ease of use, convenience and affordability of consumer appliances with the power of computers having special purpose hardware platforms, in order to make electronic information far more accessible to consumers. Thus, the present invention can be characterized as an architecture for an information appliance adapted for a specific app

Problems solved by technology

The general purpose nature of personal computers keeps the cost of these systems high.

Thus, if an individual uses a personal computer only for the purpose of gathering information from a CD-ROM, without taking advantage of a wide variety

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